Switch-box.



C. M. SIEFFERTL SWITCH B'OX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 5, 1916.

1,262,988. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

A HORNE VS "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE M. SIEFFERT, 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SIEFFER'IELECTRIC COMPANY, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SWITCH-BOX.

Application filed December 5, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE M. SIEFFERT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Evansville, in thecounty of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Switch- Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch boxes, for electricalwiring systems, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, andarrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a box which can be installed innew work much more quickly and at much less expense than ordinary switchboxes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch box having meansfor permitting its quick and economical installa tion, but which canalso be adapted for ready installation in old work as well as new.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is simple in construction, and therefore cheap tomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which:

Figure l is a plan View of the box showing it in position to be securedto a stud;

F'g. 2 is a side view of the box;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the box, and

F ig. 4; is a section along the line 4.t

of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a metal box preferably castiron or steel, of the general shape shown in the drawing. This boxconsists of a casing 1 having lugs 2 at opposite ends by means of whichthe casing may be attached to the studding, as will be explained, therear part of the casing being beveled at the corners, as shown at 3,these beveled portions being provided with lugs 4 which are surroundedby scored lines 5 where the metal is relatively thin, so that a sharpblow on the lug will fracture the thin portions, thereby leavingcircular openings for the admission of Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Serial No. 135,233.

the wires, conduits, or cables which are designed to enter the box.

As will be seen from Fig. 8, the sides of the ears or lugs 2 are flushwith the sides of the casing 1. At the top and bottom of the casing is acut-away portion 6. A hole 7 extends from the cutaway portion throughthe adjacent side of the box. In order that the box may have a firmbearing on the stud, the sides through which the holes 7 extend areslightly dished as shown at 11.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof will be readily understood.

Ordinarily the switch boxes are secured to the studs by means of theears, such as those shown at 2, and this generally necessitates the useof extra braces between the adjacent studs. The time consumed in theinstallation of these extra supporting devices is quite considerable. Inthe present instance, all that is necessary is to drive an eightpennynail, such as that shown at 8, or to insert a screw in each of theopenings 7, and to fasten the box directly to the side of the stud 9 inthe position shown in Fig. 1. This eliminates fully three-fourths of thework required to secure the box in position. This means of securing thebox insures its permanency and rigidity, and, as stated above, greatlyexpedites the labor of installation.

In view of the fact that the box is symmetrical as to its top andbottom, it can of course be reversed so as to be placed on either sideof the stud, and this again is another advantage.

The box has the added convenience that, while it is primarily designedfor new work, it has the lugs 2 so that in old work where the supportsare already in place, the box may be fastened directly to the supportsby means of the lugs 2. No change whatever is required in fastening thebox, either by the use of the lugs 2 or the openings 7, and the presenceof either does not interfere with the operation of the other.

I claim 2-- l. A switch box comprising a casing having symmetrical endportions, said end portions having recesses near one of the sides of thecasing, and being provided with bores extending from the recessesthrough the tions having recesses near one of the sides adjacent side,said bores being angulariy of the casing, and being provided with boresl disposed with respect to one another, and reextendin from the recessesthrough the adtaining lugs carried by the end ortions and jacent side,said bores being angularly dis- 5 being provided with openings orreceiving posed with respect to one another, said Sides the retainingmembers. being dished to provide a rigid bearing for 2. A switch boxcomprising a casing havsaid box near the ends thereof.

ing symmetrical end portions, said endpor- CLARENCE M. SIEFFERT.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 03f

